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02-16-2026, 10:08 AM
#1
ICON floating on rough waters?
Hi guys, I am new to the Forum and I have searched in previous threads and posts the following subject: floating in rough water.
I have a house here in North Italy with a private port in a Lake similar (and not far away) Como.
Actually I did my Seaplane Rating at Aeroclub Como (on Lake Como, of course) two years ago.
I have always been a "terrestrial", woning an RV7 and an Extra 330 LT, but I am currently evaluating an Amphibous plane to "park" in my port.
So, my question: how does the Icon behave during floating (not on step), just floating, compared, for example, to a Cessna 172 on floats?
My Lake does not have usual rough waters, but there are small/medium ferries (just for people, not car), I mean ferries 40-60 ft long. which make a relative "big" wave. You can "wait" the wave before taking off and landing, but it's hard not to get them during the floating process.
Any information to share on this? -
02-16-2026, 02:48 PM #2
When I first bought my Icon, and subsequently when I did my transition training in Tampa, I encountered 1/3 to 1//2 meter waves. The windshield gets a lot of water... Keep the canopy closed. Some of the water will go down the drain into the wheel well and a good quantity of water will POUR out of your panel vents (including over the ignition key which really freaked me out). It seems the Icon is designed for that... The Bilge has a warning light but its good practice to bilge some a few seconds before you attempt to take off of taxi... Get rid of all that weight. DO not leave the plane anchored or buoyed in 1/3+ meter waves because it will NOT auto-bilge. Once at dock, you will want it out of the water because the hull is completely exposed to scratches or worse if the waves are bad...
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